All posts tagged: Marriage

Stumped about how to stage the perfect Valentine’s Day celebration? Worry no more. There are countless ways to revitalize the excitement you and your spouse felt during your first time celebrating together. Ditch the tired routine of dinner and a movie and bring on the romance with a fresh take on how to revive the day. Here are three nontraditional ways to make your Valentine’s Day fun and memorable.

Make Something

If you and your partner are the hands-on type, why not make something together? Handmade treats are a tangible show of care. By investing your own time and effort to create an end product, every creative decision you make further personalizes the outcome. You and your spouse will be grateful for the beauty of the process and proud of the love that went into every detail.

Wearable creations: make or design jewelry or sew an article of clothing together

Laugh Together

Laughter is good for the soul (and your union). Life is full of plenty of serious, somber moments – your date night shouldn’t be one of them. Lighten up! There’s nothing better than spending Valentine’s Day doubling over in laughter. First, think about your spouse’s particular brand of humor, then find an event or activity that fits the bill.

Here are some possibilities:

A comedy or improv show.

A comedy movie (or show) marathon at home.

Game night (remember that the competition should be more fun than competitive).

Focus on Others

If traditional romance isn’t your cup of tea, consider stepping outside of the box. Valentine’s Day is all about love, but there’s no rule that requires you to limit it to your spouse. Instead, go out and spread love as a united team. Think of what you can do to make someone else feel tended to and cared for. On the surface, it may appear that such an act diverts your attention away from your spouse and places focus on someone else. But look a little deeper and you’ll see that philanthropy, community service and spousal mentorship all rely on teamwork. What better way to celebrate your love than by showing how well you work together as a loving couple?

Ideas:

Donate time: Pick a foundation like the Humane Society or the Children’s Hospital and spread some cheer

Donate money: Spend the day researching worthy causes and charities

Mentor another couple: Record a podcast, write a social media post full of marital wisdom or schedule an in-person mentorship session with a young couple.

Valentine’s Day gives couples an excuse to be extra sweet. But when in a long term relationship, finding new ways to celebrate your love can be taxing. After years together, you’ve most likely checked many romantic date and gift ideas off your list. However, making your quality time memorable doesn’t have to be a job. Save the ideas above as a reference guide for the next time you run out of Valentine’s day ideas and surprise your spouse with a day to remember.

It’s no secret. Mindful relationships are the most fulfilling relationships, and this is no exception when it comes to marriage. It’s so easy to get distracted by work, paying bills, and dropping kids off at soccer practices and baseball games. Somewhere along the way your relationship with each other somehow takes a backseat. But this doesn’t mean you don’t still love each other. All it means is you have to pay a bit more attention to making sure you stay aware of what is happening between the two of you.

By remaining mindful of what is happening in your relationship on a daily basis, you’ll know what needs work and what is already working. At its heart, a mindful marriage is one that is lived out with intention every single day––no ifs, ands, or buts about it. So try out these suggestions to live out your most mindful marriage.

Continually learn about each other

Embrace the fact that everyone changes over time including the two of you. Make sure to ask questions and be interested in actually learning about your spouse––even if you’ve been married for decades. Ask about their day. Learn something you didn’t already know. Continue the fascination.

Do something new together

Sharing experiences together is hands down the best way to continue improving and building upon your existing bond with each other. Take a cooking class. Learn a new language together. Go dancing. Just go out and do something for the two of you to broaden your shared experiences and make new memories.

Compliment each other

Never underestimate the power of a genuine compliment. Express appreciation for your partner and a very visible and bold way. Tell them what you love about them in public and private. While complimenting their looks is never a bad thing, try complimenting them on things you can’t see. Tell them how you love the way they interact with your kids. Or how you love how they always make time for family dinner even on their busiest work days. Let them know you appreciate their daily efforts to make your family what it is.

Plan something together

It can be anything from a date night next weekend or a family vacation to how to achieve your life goals together. Recognize the importance of pressing pause to figure out what your relationship needs and plan how to achieve it together.

We know life can get crazy sometimes, but making sure your marriage is filled with intention should always be a top priority. Follow these tips to make sure you’re living out your most mindful marriage.

Marriage isn’t always a picnic; it certainly isn’t always a walk in the park, either. When the honeymoon has come to an end, both literally and metaphorically, it can be difficult to bounce back and remember what made you commit your life to that person in the first place.

Luckily, there are some small, easy changes that you can make that can have a huge impact on your marriage.

Plan At Least One Date Night Per Week

Speaking of picnics and walks in the park, there’s no better way to regain that honeymoon feeling than by planning at least one date night per week.

The dates don’t have to be extravagant. Five-star restaurants don’t have to be a part of the plan every week. You just have to set aside a night or an afternoon for you and your spouse to have alone time to reconnect. This may be difficult, especially if you have kids. But, it’s worth every penny you’ll spend on babysitters to be able to save the most precious asset of all: your relationship with your husband or wife.

Get Rid of Distractions During Alone Time

On the topic of alone time, it’s important to note that distractions should play no part in your date nights. As much as possible, try to unplug from your phone, computer, or tablet and enjoy being present in the moment.

Because modern life is so hectic, and technology makes everyone feel as though they must be connected at all times, it can understandably be a challenge to follow this rule. You don’t have to unplug all the time—just be conscious of the amount of screen time you’re indulging in around your spouse. Your husband or wife is the most important person in your life; treat them as such by turning off the TV and putting your phone away for at least an hour a day.

Remember That Your Spouse is On Your Team

Again, your husband or wife is the most important person in your life. You should treat them as though this were the truest statement you’ve ever heard. As the saying goes, “Happy wife, happy life.”

All too often, people take their husband or wife for granted. They forget that a spouse should be a best friend, and most people treat their best friend better than anyone else they know. Your spouse is on your team; you should always try to be on theirs.

Trevor and Lexi Baker3 Small Changes That Can Have a Huge Impact on Your Marriage